Emotional and Social Isolation Among Older French Canadian Seasonal Residents in Florida

This study focuses on: (1) an examination of the relationship between the emotional and social isolation experienced by older French Canadian seasonal residents of Florida; and (2) a comparison of the emotional and social isolation of the French Canadian sample with their English Canadian counterparts (Mullins, Woodland & Putnam, 1989). Among these French Canadians, emotional isolation was related to living alone, but only among those under 70 years of age, males and those in poor health, and among those who were under 70 years of age who had fewer children. A comparison of the relationship between social and emotional isolation between the French and English Canadians shows the results to be more different than similar. The conclusions drawn from these findings point to the importance of considering living arrangements, ethno-cultural background, and age, gender and health to understanding and coping with emotional isolation.